ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN FIGHTING INVASIVES

Transcription

1 ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN FIGHTING INVASIVES GA EPPC SYMPOSIUM ATHENS, GA. November 5, 2009 Copyright 2009

2 FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS We have deliberately stripped out references to: kudzu specific treatments herbicide versus non-herbicide issues Our experience is primarily in urban environments and small infestations.

3 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... THE ENVIRONMENT IS IN All ages All income levels All neighborhoods

4 INVASIVES ARE NOT GREEN

5 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Everyone loves trees All ages All income levels All neighborhoods Our second best recruiting poster...

6 INVASIVES KILL TREES

7 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... VOLUNTEERS NEED PROOF Can I can really make a difference? Our best recruiting poster...

8 AUGUST 20, 2009

9 SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

10 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... The best single advice we have received came from our Mayor: Get the young people involved

11 HIGH SCHOOL ADOPTED INFESTATION IN DNR PRESERVE

12 FACTUAL BASIS FOR RECRUITING STUDENTS Richard Louv s book: Last Child in the Woods Less and less time outdoors Disconnect between kids and the environment Nature-Deficit Disorder

13 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS... You have heard No child left behind. Our slogan/intent is No student left indoors.

14 INVASIVE FIGHTS BACK! (Students like to ham it up)

15 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Students: Environmental Science classes (work during school hours) Groups already doing community service (work weekends)

16 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS LIKE FOOD

17 USE INVASIVE FOR BONFIRE

18 IMPROVISE!

19 LEARN FROM EVERYONE: STUDENT IMPROVED A METHOD

20 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS... Lesson learned # 1 with students: Don t give a high school youth an ax. He will chop down things you do not want to kill.

21 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS Lesson learned # 2 with students: Don t schedule any school activity the day before a holiday. Their minds have already gone on vacation.

22 VOTED #1 INVASIVE PROBLEM

23 ... RESULTS SPUR INTEREST

24 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Tell your story in a flyer Document successes with posters

25 EDUCATION: GREAT HOOK

26 DIPLOMA

27 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Find champions : Passionate believers, doers, & leaders Women often take the lead Example...

28 ... NEIGHBORHOOD WARRIORS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

29 NEIGHBORHOOD DEFINITION Any group or community with common interests A city neighborhood A county Members of a group Friends of a land trust Etc.

30 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... We have been unsuccessful in recruiting volunteers during talks to social garden clubs. We have been successful in recruiting volunteers after garden clubs select an invasives project.

31 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Ownership is a powerful recruiter.

32 GARDEN CLUB SELECTION

33 AFTER GARDEN CLUB PARTIES

34 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Our biggest source for adult volunteers: Master Gardener candidates (40 hours of required community service)

35 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Failures: Student art contests Student writing contests No workers came from these events. Now discontinued.

36 FINDING VOLUNTEERS The best prospects are probably: Busy Retired Well educated

37 FINDING VOLUNTEERS... Work with other organizations. Schools, civic clubs, neighborhoods, garden clubs, conservation groups, etc. (Over 140 different groups for us) Caution: Some are very territorial about their volunteers.

38 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... This is the key Some will come out once But will they come back? What brings them back?

39 MAKE IT FUN

40 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... It has to be fun. This is THE most important factor. Pardon the pun: This is FUNdamental.

41 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Web site can be huge for: Awareness Education hook Recognition

42 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CLASS (Recognition on the Internet)

43 ... ALSO ON THE INTERNET (Students award for principal)

44 INVENT GAMES WITH THE INVASIVE

45 USE FUN NAMES: THE BEAST

46 ... WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION (Bio-mass that is)

47 ... HIGH SCHOOL ADOPTED INFESTATION IN DNR PRESERVE

48 ... BECAUSE OF A FUN TEACHER (Dr. Gill Newberry, Botanist)

49 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Start with a small and easy activity The first activity must be successful. Success breeds success.

50 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... A great source for ideas has been the students. Example

51 ... HIGH SCHOOL GROUP INVITED THEIR PARENTS

52 STUDENTS LIKE FIELD TRIPS

53 ... ROSE HILL STATE HISTORIC PARK, UNION, SC

54 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Recognition: Applause, applause, applause

55 ... FISHERMAN POSE & PHOTO

56 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Volunteers love awards & recognition 3 work sessions T-shirt 5 work sessions Safety vest 10 work sessions Tool 15 work sessions Holster for tool 20 work sessions INVASIVE SWAT vest

57 T-SHIRTS TO HEROES AT OFFICE

58 RECOGNIZE THE BIGGEST

59 RECOGNIZE THE LONGEST/DEEPEST

60 FIND WAYS TO SEE PROGRESS/INVASIVE REMOVAL

61 SAVING A THREATENED TREE...

62 MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE

63 SIGNS: POWERFUL FOR AWARENESS AND TESTIMONIALS

64 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Limit our work sessions to two hours 60 minutes of work Cookies and drinks 45 minutes of work Quit before they want to quit

65 MAKE WORK AS EASY AS WE CAN Powered equipment helps

66 TAME DAUNTING SITES

67 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Volunteers hate meetings They are already busy Breakfast works well and is not considered a meeting

68 BREAKFAST EVERY MONDAY

69 VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES Passionate team breakfast every Monday Environmental Science class on Tuesdays Heavy equipment every other Thursday Work party every Friday evening* Work party most Saturday mornings* Kudzu Kollege every month * Usually in cooperation with a neighborhood or garden club team

70 KEEPING VOLUNTEERS... Every volunteer is unique Each has a hot button Find out what it is and turn them loose Examples...

71 ... SOME LIKE TO SAVE TREES

72 ... SOME LIKE EXPERIMENTING

73 HAVE AN EXPERIMENTS AREA

74 SOME LIKE EARLY DETECTION

75 SOME LIKE HELPING YOUTH Getting students outdoors Funding for Special Ed kids to learn job skills Invasives removal Available for hire Home owners Land managers

76 ... ENGINEERS LOVE CHALLENGES (Wheel base wider than forks)

77 ... SOME LIKE DESIGN WORK (Wider forks: twice the productivity)

78 BOYS LOVE THEIR TOYS

79 ... SOME PREFER RESTORATION

80 .. SOME PREFER TO SUPPORT OTHERS

81 ... A FEW COALITION ANGELS Experimenter Don Oldham People person Barbara Daniels Idea person Jack Rutter Writer Dr. Dianne Fergusson Bush hog owners Howard Miller, Buddy Waters Skid-steer owner Paul David Blakeley Mower owner Jim Anderson Webmaster Emeritus Dr. Lou Adams Mail stuffers Jess and Allene Taylor Shop work Johnny Savko Regular workers Paul, Tim, Dr. Charlie, etc. Botanist Dr. Gillian Newberry Internet searches Patti Bowers Fund Raiser Ellen Rutter Nghbrhd. Captains Sam, Peggy, Francie, Leroy, etc

82 MANY POSITIVES Outdoors Good exercise Stress release Instant gratification A real impact on environment Appreciation for natural environment Intellectual challenge: Test & develop new treatments

83 More details on website (864) QUESTIONS?